Understanding Phenomenology

Summary

This explainer delves into phenomenology, a philosophy focusing on lived experiences and our conscious interpretation of the world. Originating from Edmund Husserl's break with Cartesian dualism, phenomenology emphasizes intentionality and bracketing to understand reality through consciousness. Martin Heidegger diverges by viewing consciousness as historically situated, arguing reality and consciousness co-create meaning, challenging the notion of objective study.

Takeaways

• 📚 Phenomenology is the study of lived experience, focusing on how individuals perceive and understand the world around them.
• 🌟 The term 'phenomenology' comes from the Greek 'phainomenon', meaning 'that which appears', emphasizing the study of phenomena as they are experienced.
• 💡 Modern phenomenology was developed by Edmund Husserl in the early 20th century, marking a significant departure from Cartesian dualism.
• 🔍 Cartesian dualism posits a strict separation between objective reality and subjective experience, with the former being rational and the latter influenced by sensory distortions.
• 🧐 Husserl's phenomenology aims to understand the external world through human consciousness, rather than as a separate entity.
• 🌐 Ontologically, phenomenology deals with the nature of being and existence, examining how reality is interpreted through consciousness.
• 🔑 Intentionality is a key concept in Husserl's phenomenology, referring to the directedness of consciousness towards objects of study.
• 🤔 Bracketing is a method used in phenomenology to suspend personal judgments and preconceived notions, allowing for a more objective study.
• 🔄 Martin Heidegger diverged from Husserl's approach, criticizing the idea of grasping objects of study as objective entities.
• 🏛 Heidegger viewed consciousness as a product of historical context and argued that objects of study cannot be separated from their contexts.
• 🌿 Reality and consciousness are seen as co-creations in Heidegger's philosophy, with human understanding arising from the interplay between the two.

Q & A

What is phenomenology?

Phenomenology is the study of lived experience, focusing on the phenomena as they appear in the consciousness of the individual experiencing them.

Who is considered the founder of modern phenomenology?

Edmund Husserl is recognized as the founder of modern phenomenology, establishing it in the early 20th century.

How does phenomenology differ from the Cartesian system?

Phenomenology differs from the Cartesian system by rejecting the stark distinction between outer reality and individual experience, instead seeking to understand the world as interpreted by human consciousness.

What is the role of intentionality in Husserl's phenomenology?

Intentionality in Husserl's phenomenology refers to the directedness of consciousness towards objects, which is used to describe and understand the reality as experienced by the individual.

What is the concept of bracketing in phenomenology?

Bracketing, or epoché, is a process in phenomenology where researchers set aside their personal judgments and preconceived notions to prevent them from interfering with the phenomenological inquiry.

What is Martin Heidegger's approach to phenomenology, and how does it differ from Husserl's?

Martin Heidegger's approach emphasizes the situated meaning of a human in the world, viewing consciousness as a product of historical context. Unlike Husserl, Heidegger argues that an objective study is impossible, as reality and consciousness are co-creations and cannot be separated from their contexts.

What does it mean to say that reality and consciousness are co-creations in Heidegger's view?

In Heidegger's view, reality and consciousness are co-creations, meaning that they are interdependent and influence each other, rather than being separate and distinct entities.

How does the concept of 'situated meaning' relate to Heidegger's phenomenology?

Situated meaning in Heidegger's phenomenology refers to the understanding that consciousness and its interpretations are shaped by the historical and social context in which they arise.

What is the significance of the relationship between reality and consciousness in phenomenology?

The relationship between reality and consciousness is significant in phenomenology because it suggests that our understanding of the world is always mediated through our subjective experiences, which are shaped by our consciousness.

How does phenomenology challenge the traditional view of sense perception and emotions in understanding reality?

Phenomenology challenges the traditional view by not considering sense perception and emotions as distortions or lower forms of experience. Instead, it sees them as integral parts of how we understand and interpret reality.

What is the role of historical context in shaping our consciousness according to Heidegger?

According to Heidegger, historical context plays a crucial role in shaping our consciousness, suggesting that our understanding of reality is always influenced by the time and place in which we exist.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Phenomenology

This paragraph introduces phenomenology as the study of lived experiences, focusing on how individuals perceive the world around them. It contrasts phenomenology with the Cartesian system, which separates outer reality from personal experience and relies on rational cognition. Phenomenology, as developed by Edmund Husserl, aims to understand reality through the lens of human consciousness, using intentionality and bracketing to achieve a deeper, unbiased understanding of phenomena. The paragraph also touches on Martin Heidegger's divergence from Husserl's approach, emphasizing the situated meaning of human existence and the inseparable nature of reality and consciousness.

Keywords

💡Phenomenology

Phenomenology is the philosophical study of structures of experience and consciousness. It seeks to understand things as they appear in our experiences, rather than attempting to understand the nature of reality itself. In the video, phenomenology is presented as a break from the Cartesian system, focusing on lived experience and the way consciousness interprets the world around us.

💡Lived Experience

Lived experience refers to the personal and subjective experiences that individuals have as they interact with the world. In the context of the video, phenomenology is concerned with studying these lived experiences to understand the phenomena as they are experienced by individuals, rather than as abstract, objective entities.

💡Edmund Husserl

Edmund Husserl is the founder of modern phenomenology. He introduced the concept of intentionality and the method of bracketing to phenomenological inquiry. The video discusses Husserl's approach to understanding reality through the structures of consciousness, emphasizing the importance of intentional focus on the object of study.

💡Cartesian System

The Cartesian system, associated with René Descartes, posits a strict dualism between the mind and the body and emphasizes the use of reason to understand the world. The video contrasts phenomenology with this system, highlighting Husserl's departure from the Cartesian emphasis on rationality and the separation of outer reality from individual experience.

💡Intentionality

Intentionality, in phenomenology, refers to the directedness of consciousness toward objects. It is the idea that consciousness is always consciousness of something. The video explains that Husserl used intentionality to grasp reality through conscious structures, directing one's focus to describe and understand the phenomena.

💡Bracketing

Bracketing, or epoché, is a method in phenomenology where a researcher sets aside or 'brackets' their personal judgments and preconceived notions to avoid bias in phenomenological inquiry. The video mentions this as a process to achieve a deeper, unbiased understanding of the object of study.

💡Martin Heidegger

Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher who, while influenced by Husserl, developed his own approach to phenomenology. The video notes Heidegger's criticism of Husserl's approach and his emphasis on the situated meaning of a human in the world, suggesting that consciousness is constructed by historical context.

💡Design

In the context of the video, 'design' refers to Heidegger's concept of the situated meaning of a human in the world. Heidegger believed that consciousness and reality are co-creations, and understanding arises from the relationship between them, rather than from an objective study of entities separate from their contexts.

💡Historical Context

Historical context, as discussed in the video in relation to Heidegger's philosophy, is the background of historical events, social structures, and cultural values that influence the development of consciousness. It suggests that one cannot approach an objective study without considering the influence of this context on the subject of study.

💡Co-creations

Co-creations in the video refer to the idea that reality and consciousness are not separate entities but are interdependent and mutually constitutive. This concept is central to Heidegger's phenomenology, which rejects the idea of a presuppositionless study and emphasizes the interplay between reality and consciousness.

💡Relationship

The term 'relationship' in the video signifies the dynamic interaction between reality and consciousness. It is through this relationship that human understanding is said to arise, as both elements act upon each other, shaping the way we perceive and understand the world.

Highlights

Phenomenology is the study of lived experience, focusing on phenomena that arise from the experience of being in the world.

Modern phenomenology was established by Edmund Husserl in the early 20th century, breaking from the Cartesian system.

The Cartesian system emphasizes a stark distinction between outer reality and individual experience.

Outer reality in the Cartesian system is understood in rational terms through cognitive processes.

Sense perception and emotions were considered distortions in the Cartesian view.

Phenomenology seeks to understand the outside world as interpreted by human consciousness.

Ontologically, phenomenology is concerned with how reality is grasped through structures of consciousness.

Husserl introduced the concept of intentionality, directing one's focus to describe realities.

To achieve deeper understanding, researchers can use the process of bracketing to quarantine personal judgments.

Martin Heidegger's approach differs from Husserl's, emphasizing the situated meaning of a human in the world.

Heidegger criticizes Husserl's phenomenology for attempting to capture objects of study as graspable entities.

Heidegger argues that consciousness is a product of the historical context from which it arises.

Heidegger asserts that an objective study cannot be achieved in a presuppositionless form.

Objects of study cannot be separated from their contexts, according to Heidegger.

Reality and consciousness are co-creations, acting upon each other.

Human understanding arises from the relationship between reality and consciousness.

Transcripts

welcome to an explainer on

phenomenology at its most basic

phenomenology is the study of lived

experience as its name suggests

phenomenology is concerned with the

study of phenomena that Ares from the

experience of being in the world the

development of modern phenomenology

established by Edmund Hur in the early

20th century was a break from the

cartisian system that pitched Stark

distinction between the outer real

reality and the individual experience of

reality following the cartisian

principle outer reality is a separate

and distinct entity that can only be

understood in rational terms through

cognitive processes of deduction sense

perception was thought to distort this

process and certainly emotions were

considered a lower form of experience

emanating from the recesses of the body

in contrast phenomenology seeks to

understand the outside world as it is

interpreted by and through human

consciousness ontologically speaking

that means speaking in terms of how

philosophers understand the nature of

being and existence huur purported that

reality could be grasped by and through

structures of Consciousness by applying

what he called intentionality to the

object of study or intentional directing

one's Focus to describe realities for

huur to achieve deeper understanding of

an object of study a researcher could

quarantine their personal judgments a

process called bracketing so that

preconceived notions do not interfere

with the phenomenological

inquiry it is at this point that Martin

heer's approach breaks with huell's

process in fact haiger was very critical

of huell's phenomenology where where

huel sought to capture objects of study

as graspable entities that could be

objectively studied heiger employed the

notion of design the situated meaning of

a human in the world for heiger

Consciousness is a product or

construction of the historical context

from which it arises and in turn one can

never approach an objetive study in a

presuppositionless form that is objects

of study cannot be neatly separated from

their contexts nor should they be

reality and Consciousness are

co-creations and because of this human

understanding always arises from the

relationship between the two acting upon

each

other thank you for

watching